Sports village in line for cash boost

A money-spinning Deeside social event is set to give the Banchory Sports Village project a major boost.

Organisers of the 2016 Summer Marquee Ball are confident they will have raised more than £30,000 from the recent event.

Some of the 360-plus guests who attended the summer ball

The sports village development is the beneficiary from this year’s ball held at Raemoir House Hotel.

Billed as Deeside’s top social gathering, the annual event has been raising money for local charities since 1998 and has totalled more than £360,000. More than 360 guests attended this year.

One of the organisers, Logan Sangster, told the Piper: “We would like to thank everyone from the guests, supporters, sponsors and donators who have been so generous, especially in the economic climate at the moment.

“We were concerned as some of our regular sponsors from the oil and gas industry couldn’t support us this year, but the local community have been outstanding.

We are quietly confident that we have raised over £30,000 once again this year

Logan Sangster
Organiser

“Also our small team of volunteers, who have been dedicated to the ball for years.”

He added: “We are quietly confident that we have raised over £30,000 once again this year, but this will be confirmed very soon, and an exact amount announced.”

Banchory Sports Village Trust’s fundraising chair James Knowles said they were delighted that the marquee ball decided to donate this year’s proceeds to the project.

He added: “The generosity of many people has been fantastic including all who attended the ball and we await the final total of monies raised from the event.

“Currently just under £600,000 has been collected and this is before the donation so we are definitely on the final straight.”